A MAN accused of murder following an argument at a cashpoint has told a court he felt “frightened” by the victim.Andrew and Mark Fredericks, aged 31 and 36, have both denied murdering Westley Odger , who was stabbed to death in Colchester on September 12 last year.

A MAN accused of murder following an argument at a cashpoint has told a court he felt “frightened” by the victim.

Andrew and Mark Fredericks, aged 31 and 36, have both denied murdering Westley Odger , who was stabbed to death in Colchester on September 12 last year.

The brothers are blaming each other for killing 27-year-old Mr Odger who died at the scene, despite the best efforts of bystanders and paramedics, because an artery in his neck had been severed.

The prosecution allege it was Andrew Fredericks who stabbed Mr Odger, but with the full support of Mark Fredericks who phoned and asked his brother to come to the scene of the row.

Giving evidence yesterday Mark Fredericks said he had been at the cashpoint at a parade of shops on Hunwicke Road at the same time as Mr Odger.

He said Mr Odger took “ages” at the machine and, when he had told him this, he claimed Mr Odger became aggressive and abusive.

“I think I mumbled something and walked off - I walked away because I did not want to get into a fight,” he said.

Mark Fredericks said he went to his home nearby and phoned his brother, telling him he was frightened.

He said when his brother arrived at the scene, on the town's Greenstead estate, they did not speak and Andrew Fredericks then “punched” Mr Odger in his neck.

He said: “I saw blood, I just panicked - I just ran off. I did not know where it was coming from but I knew blood was coming from him.”

Mark Fredericks, of Avon Way, told the court he had panicked and ran home. The cleaner was arrested that evening and when his home was searched officers found a knife in his bedroom, which he said he carried for defending himself although he had never used it.

He was taken to Colchester Police Station where he read a prepared statement to officers but refused to comment afterwards.

Philip Sutton, defending, asked Mark Fredericks why he had not answered questions during interview.

He replied: “Because I knew what happened and what my brother did and my head was all over the place.”

He said he did not tell police who was responsible because he was worried what his mother would think because he was “going against” his brother.

He denied knowing Mr Odger, of Jack Andrews Avenue, that he had heard of him, and denied recognising him. He told the court he did not phone his brother to come and attack, seriously injure or kill Mr Odger.

Earlier the court heard from Fredericks' brother, Andrew, who said Mark was responsible for inflicting the fatal knife wound at about 3pm.

He told the jury of eight men and four women: “My brother knows what he has done and he knows the pain and anguish he is causing.”

Andrew Fredericks said his brother had phoned him on the day of the alleged murder, sounding angry and upset, and said he was having trouble with Mr Odger at the cash machine.

“I just wanted to get there and calm him down,” he said.

He said he had told his brother to leave but said Mark wanted to use the cash machine.

“I put my hand on my brother's arm to pull him away. I pulled his arm away and it went up and hit Westley's left side,” he said.

Nadine Radford QC asked Andrew Fredericks if his brother was responsible and he replied: “Yes, he definitely did it because I saw it myself.”

The case continues.